Shuna(h)shshEpam
narashrEShTha gruheetvA tu mahAyashAha|
VyashrAmyatpuShkarE
rAjA maDhyAnhE RaGhunandana||1||
Tasya
vishramamANasya shunahshshEpO mahAyashAha|
PuShkaram
shrEShThamAgamya VishwAmitram dadarsha ha||2||
TapyantamruShiBhihi
sArDham mAtulam paramAturaha|
ViShaNNavadanO
deenastruShNayA cha shramENa cha|
PapAtAnkE
munErAshu vAkyam chEdamuvAcha ha||3||
Na
mE(a)sti mAtA na pita jnAtayO bAnDhavAha kutaha|
TrAtumarhasi
mAm saumya DharmENa munipungava||4||
TrAtA twam
hi munishrEShTha sarvESham twAm hi BhAvanaha|
RAjA
cha krutakAryaha syAdaham deerGhAyuravyayaha|
SwargalOkamupAshneeyAm
tapastaptvAhyanuttamam||5||
“Raghunandana, it was
afternoon when Ambareesha was journeying towards his city carrying Shunahshepa
in the chariot. The king parked his chariot near a holy pond and was relaxing
there for a while. Shunahshshepa got down from the chariot with a sorrowful
face and saw near the pond his maternal uncle Vishwamitra doing penance, along
with other ascetics. As he was very eager to survive, desperate, thirsty and
was wearing a pale face due to the strain of travelling, Shunahshshepa went to
Vishwamitra, who was doing penance in the midst of several Rishis, kept his
head on the lap of the sage and said:
“Uncle, I have no
father, no mother, no brother nor relatives. At this moment, you are my father
as well as mother. Therefore, it is up to you to save me and it also forms a
part of your duty to safeguard cousin. You are the protector of those who surrender
to you. You uplift those on the verge of destruction2. But, I
will not ask you to save me alone. The king, who has bartered me for one lakh
cows, should also get his desire fulfilled. With your grace, I should have a
long life, without any agony; do meritorious and well-motivated penance so that
I will be able to enjoy all the comforts in the heaven. Being adorned with a
divine radiation please be my protector as I am now a poor destitute. Oh
Dharmatma, please protect me like a father protects his son as I am now facing
a serious danger due to my misdeeds in the previous lives.”
Hearing those words of his
cousin, Vishwamitra caressed the son of Rishi (Shunahshshepa) affectionately,
consoled him and told his children, who were nearby:
“Dear children, the
time has come for rendering help to others, which all the parents expect their
siblings to do as such acts carry you to a pleasant world hereafter. He is the
son of a great sage. He is of tender age and moreover, he is seeking my
protection. Therefore, make me happy by sanction life to him. All of you are
righteous and pious. You may all to the city along with the king as a
representative of Shunahshshepa and satisfy the Fire God by becoming the
sacrificial prey. By doing so, several divine tasks get accomplished. By such
an act, this orphan will be made to feel that there is someone to care for him.
The sacrifice begun by the king will also get completed without any obstacle.
Deities will be pleased. You will be keeping the words given by your father
too.”
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